Bios of 11 Los Angeles “Not1More Deportation” Action Participants

These 11 people are risking arrest in civil disobedience calling on the President to use his power to stop deportations.

Luis Serrano is an undocumented organizer with the Los Angeles Immigrant Youth Coalition. Since 2009 Serrano has advocated for the decriminalization of migrant communities. Luis has taken an active role in organizing around deportation cases, many of which are his personal friends.

Betty Hung is part of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and the daughter of immigrants from Taiwan who emigrated to the United States after racist national origins quotas were finally lifted in 1965. Her parents settled roots in the San Gabriel Valley and sponsored their family members – their sisters and brothers – to join them in the U.S. She believes in the human right of all families – including LGBTQ families – to be together with their loved ones. No family should be separated. She stands in solidarity with migrant communities and urges president to end deportations.

Barbara Moore is a life long Unitarian Universalist and her faith is the primary source of her commitment to working for social justice. She serves on the Immigrant Justice Steering Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry in California.

Martha Arévalo is the executive director for the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN). She specializes in immigrant advocacy work, community outreach and Latino strategic communications. Arevalo has extensive experience in the areas of social marketing, public education, immigration, education, civic participation, public policy and community organizing.

Claudia Ramirez came to the USA when she was only 4 years old. By organizing she knows it is time to let go of fear and to stop protecting ourselves behind four walls. Claudia has been active in the Los Angeles Immigrant Youth Coalition and the Saint Lawrence Dream Team, focusing on organizing youth in East and South Los Angeles. Claudia has been a pioneer in highlighting the mental health issues that affect undocumented youth through sharing her experiences and creating safe spaces for others to do so as well.

Edna Monroy is an undocumented and unafraid woman. She came to the United States in 2001 at the age of 12. Born in Iguala Guerrero, México, she came to reunite with her father after jobs as flower street vendors could no longer support them in a tough economy. She grew up in South Central Los Angeles, and after graduating from high school she attended UCLA where she became involved in organizing. She is engaging in this type of work because it is important to continue building momentum, and escalate to hold the government and president Obama accountable for the numerous deportations that have taken place and continue to occur throughout the country.

Myisha Arellano was born in Mexico. She grew up in both Mexico City metropolitan area and the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. She has resided in California since the age of nine. She became involved in her community through her work as an artist and has been active ever since. Currently she is part of the Los Angeles Immigrant Youth Coalition (IYC) and San Fernando Valley Dream Team. Myisha is currently a student at California State University, Northridge after receiving a scholarship at CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts – Multimedia and Performing.

Adrian James is an undocumented Malaysian-Indian immigrant from Bangkok, Thailand. He chooses to take action against the immoral criminalization and deportation of immigrants because he holds the fundamental belief that NO human being is disposable, especially to achieve political ends. He also recognizes that current anti-immigrant efforts are part of a broader system of oppression against people of color and that it must be actively resisted. Adrian is a passionate community organizer, writer, student, and film-maker. He completed two undergraduate degrees in philosophy and psychology. He hopes to attend law school in the future. Adrian is an organizer with the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition.

David Lemus was born in San Salvador, El Salvador. He came to the United States in 2008, at the age of 15. Since then he has lived in South Central Los Angeles. David attended John C. Fremont High School and graduated with the class of 2012. He is currently attending the University of California Berkeley, planning to double major in Ethnic Studies and Spanish. He organizes with the East Bay Immigrant Youth Coalition and USEU (Unión Salvadoreña de Estudiantes Universitarios) He is undocumented, unafraid, unashamed and unapologetic.

Alexandra Suh is executive director of the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA). Her past experience includes community organizing and advocacy on issues of police brutality and women workers; peace and trade justice; and homelessness, prostitution, mental illness, and substance abuse faced by immigrant women. She is a co-founder and board member of the Korea Policy Institute. Alexandra holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and was a professor of literature and cultural theory at Scripps College.

Luis Enrique Gonzalez came to the USA when he was 15 years old and graduated from Benjamin Franklin high school. He attends Pasadena City College majoring in math but also wants became a social worker . Luis is an undocuqueer youth organizer with the San Gabriel Valley Immigrant Youth Coalition working to create safe spaces for undocuqueer youth in his community.

NotOneMoreDeportation.com is a campaign made of individuals, organizations, artists, and allies to expose, confront, and overcome unjust immigration laws.

As the immigration debate continues, #Not1More enters the discussion from the place that touches people in concrete ways and can offer tangible relief. By collectively challenging unfair deportations and unjust policy through organizing, art, legislation, and action, we aim to reverse criminalization, build migrant power, and create immigration policies based on principles of inclusion.Read More »